Articles by Mike R

Science Fiction Exoplanet Detection Exoplanets Planets Science Fact Or Fiction Exoplanet Detection Mechanisms

Overview Of Science Fiction And Types

2020 is a marks several anniversaries for science fiction media and science fiction genres. What is Science Fiction? Science Fiction is a genre of speculative fiction that typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such…


Alternative Launch Systems

Future Alternative Launch Systems

With SpaceX launching and landing their 50th rocket, it is interesting to look at what could be the cheapest possible future alternative launch systems that could be developed. Present-day launch costs are relatively expensive, ranging…


Engine

Rocket Engine H-2038

Stationed at the Evergreen Aviation And Space Museum, this Rocketdyne H1A Rocket Engine is in great condition. Numbered H-2038, inventory number A19700286000, the engine is on loan from the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum….


careers manned spaceflight space SpaceX Commercial Crew Program

SpaceX Lands 50th Rocket

Congratulations to SpaceX who landed their 50th rocket as part of their CRS-20 mission! According to their press release, on Monday, March 9th, the ISS crew members will use the station’s 57.7-foot robotic arm to…


Bortle Scale International Dark Sky Association Buying Land Light Pollution COVID

The Bortle Scale: Measuring Light Pollution

The Bortle scale is a way of measuring the quality, otherwise known as brightness, of the night sky for a particular location. The scale is really helpful as it quantifies the astronomical observability of celestial…


September Equinox

March Equinox

Known as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and as the autumnal equinox in the Southern, the March Equinox marks the beginning of spring and the end of winter in the Northern Hemisphere but marks the beginning of autumn and the end of summer in the Southern…


Perseid Meteor Shower Milky Way

Milky Way 2020 Viewing Dates

It’s time to start planning for Milky Way Season! The reason being that camping locations fill up quickly! Everyone has their favorite time to shoot in regards to the moon. No moon, half moon, or…


Winter Triangle

Winter Triangle

The Winter Triangle is an astronomical asterism, a popularly known pattern or group of stars that can be seen in the night sky, formed from three of the brightest stars in the winter sky. This triangle forms an imaginary equilateral triangle drawn on…


Barlow Lens

Barlow Lens

Named after Peter Barlow, the Barlow lens is a diverging lens which, which is used in series with other optics in an optical system to increase the effective focal length of an optical system. This increased focal length of the optical…